Scrapbook or journal cards.

I was messing around with paint in the midst of trying to get some homework done and my three year old running crazy. I don't know how to use photoshop or anything like that..yet..but I wanted to make some stuff for my scrapbook. I can never find things big enough to actually write a good amount of information on. I'm detail oriented so I like to give the full picture. So.....I made a few things. They are just simple things but I thought I'd share them. Some elements are borrowed from other sources and I will freely give those sources to anyone interested.

On Second thought here are some of the soures: 

http://imgarcade.com/1/western-backgrounds-wood/

http://www.layoutsparks.com/pictures/rainbow-hearts-0

http://all-free-download.com/free-photos/old-paper-background.html

http://www.mygrafico.com/mujka-chic/aff_1.html

Yummy Jello Cookies

So I made these awesome Jello cookies and....like I said they are awesome. I used raspberry Jello Mix and they do taste like the mix I was surprised at how well they came out.  Here is the original post that I used Jello Cookies!

I did change the recipe a little bit. So here it is:

1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking Soda
1  6oz  Jello Packet
3/4 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp almond extract


In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, Jello
In a medium bowl beat butter and sugar until creamy, then beat in egg and almond extract and gradually blend in four mixture. Chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
bake 5-7 minutes cool on cookie sheet for two minutes then cool on wire rack before storing.

Spumoni Spritz Cookies

SPUMONI SPRITZ COOKIES
These cookies deliver the traditional spumoni ice cream flavors: Cherry, Pistachio and Chocolate

 (things in all caps below are pampered chef objects. this recipe is from Pampered chef's simply sweet cookbook) http://www.pamperedchef.com/


Prep Time 50 mins
Total time 2 hours
Yield 7-8 dozen cookies


Ing.

3 tbsp Shelled pistachios
53-63 Maraschino Cherries, well drained and cut in half
1 square ( 1 oz) semi sweet chocolate for baking, chopped
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
6 drops green food coloring
4 drops red food coloring
2 tbsp powdered sugar

1. Prepare Stir-in ingredients

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grate pistachios with ROTARY GRATER. Finely chop eight of the cherries with FOOD CHOPPER; blot with paper towel. Place chocolate in SMALL MICRO COOKER; microwave uncovered on high 30-60 seconds or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds.

2. Mix cookie dough

In STAINLESS 4 QT MIXING BOWL ,beat butter and sugar on medium speed of electric hand mixer for about 3 minutes or until creamy. Add egg; beat until light and fluffy. Gradually add four, mix on low speed just until blended ( dough will be stiff do not refrigerate.)

3. Divide dough and add color and flavor

Divide dough into three equal portions; place into each of three STAINLESS MIXING BOWLS. To one portion of the dough, add pistachios, almond extract and green food coloring, mix well. To another portion of the dough add chopped cherries and red food coloring. To the remaining dough, add melted chocolate. Beat each dough on medium speed just until blended.

4. Press Cookies

Shape each portion of dough into a 15-in log on lightly floured CUTTING BOARD. cut logs crosswise into thirds. Fit COOKIE PRESS with disk #2 or #6. Place one portion of each color into cookie press. Press dough onto ungreased COOKIE SHEET 1 in apart. Place cherry halves onto cookies.

5. Bake and Garnish

Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool cookies  2 mins on cookie sheet; remove to STACKABLE COOKING RACK. repeat with remaining dough. Cool completely, you may lightly sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

I was craving something sweet so I went to pinterest like normal.  I have had some trouble with pumpkin recipes before, I could never get them to come out the way I wanted so, for the most part I have avoided them. But this recipe sounded sooooo good. It's a super simple recipe. I did modify it to suit my needs a little bit. Here is the post I based mine on : Pumpkin Spice Muffins

So here is what you need:

1 Box yellow cake mix
1 Can Pumpkin pie mix
1/2 tsp cake spice ( optional )
1/2 Nutmeg
1/2 Cinnamon
1/4 brown sugar

350 degrees for 16 to 20 mins. Mine were done right at 16. I used an electric mixer because it does get a bit thick. Also you could dust with powdered sugar if you'd like.

So I didn't have pumpkin pie spice like the original calls for but since I used the pumpkin pie mix I figured I didn't need it. I put in the extra spices and brown sugar because I wanted a pretty strong taste. So go ahead and season to taste! Have fun these were very yummy my two year old loved them!!

Here they are!

Pampered Chef Simply Sweet

I'm going to be posting some recipes from the Pampered Chef Simply Sweet  recipe book. I have always liked their products and many have lasted me several years. My mother still has things from pampered chef that she got over ten years ago. It's worth it if you have the money. Plus the parties are super fun!  http://www.pamperedchef.com/

Here are some recipes I'm going to post:

Cookie Section:
Spumoni Spritz Cookies
S'more Cups
Peppermint Crunch Bark
Caramel Chocolate Mini-Bars
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake bites
Lemon Drop Cookies
Rosemary-Scented Citrus Knots

Cake Section:
Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream Cake
Petite Buttermilk-Berry Trifles
Pumpkin-Maple Cream Trifle
Raspberry Champagne Cream Cake
Apricot-Cardamom Torte

Pies Section:
Sweet Orange Mascarpone Tartlets
Maple-Cashew Mini-Tarts
Profiteroles with Pomegranate Cream
Berries and Cream Croustade


Now this is going to take me some time because I will be typing it all in so I'm hoping to do one a day. These are NOT all of the recipes in the recipe book. Following is a full list in case you were wondering what else there was.

Full List:
Mini Meringue Pedestals
Chewy Peanut Marshmallow Bars
Spumoni Spritz Cookies
French Macaroons with Espresso Buttercream
S'more cups
Peppermint Crunch Bark
Double Ginger Cookies
Caramel Chocolate Mini Bars
Chai spiral cookies
Macadamia coconut blondies
Cookies and cream cheesecake bites
salted caramel candies
peanutty chocolate truffles
pistachio triangles
hazelnut Shortbread
Coffee Swirl Brownies
Lemon Drop Cookies
Giant Rocky Road Cookies
Cranberry Shortbread Streusel Bars
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Festive White Chocolate Fudge
Rosemary Citrus Knots
Cherry Jewel Pinwheels
Fiery Chocolate torte
Rum Raisin Carrot cake squares
Praline Peach upside down cakes
Cinnamon Roll Ice Cream Cake
Petite Buttermilk Berry Trifles
Chocolate Coconut Cake
Pumpkin Maple Cream Trifle
Plum Spice Skillet Cake
Lemon Pucker Cake
Hot Chocolate Trifle Cups
Raspberry Champagne Cream Cake
Boston Cream Pie Squares
Tropical Lime No Bake Cheesecake
Dark Chocolate Truffle Cupcakes
English Sticky Toffee Cake
Decadent Triple Chocolate Terrines
Apricot Cardamom Torte
Black Bottom Cherry Cheesecake
Orange Dream Torte
Strawberry Cream Cupcake Desserts
Bananas Foster Tart
Sweet Orange Mascarpone Tartlets
Upside Down Chocolate Mint Pie
Maple Cashew Mini Tarts
White Chocolate Mousse Pastry Horns
Fresh Nectarine Basil Pie
Cherry Mock Fried pies
Pear and Cranberry Phyllo Purses
Apple Almond Streusel Pie
Profiteroles with Pomegranate Cream
Berries and Cream Croustade
Butterscotch Chocolate Pie
Chocolate Napoleons With Sweet Ricotta Cream

Ummmm Sticky

Okay so the play dough that I posted was fine for the one afternoon that it was being played with but by the next day it was like a nightmare sticky goo! I tried to add corn starch to it and it didn't fix it. If you child will play with just the bag of it so that it doesn't have to be directly touched it would be okay but my toddler won't do that. I ended up having to throw it away. I will be trying a new recipe soon and I will post when I find a new one that is good!

Play Dough

Well it is another rainy day here in Western New York  Since we can't go out and play Grant and I decided to make play dough. Well I decided to make him play dough as he sat on the table and played with the one color we already had. He was more than joyful when I started putting new colors on the table. 

I got the recipe off of pinterest.com but here is the link to the actual web page http://www.accidentalearthmother.com/2010/11/04/playdough-recipe/ I used this one because I didn't have any cornstarch.

1 cup plain flour

1/4 cup salt

1 tblsp vegetable oil

a few drops of  food colouring

1/2 cup boiling water

Knead it for a few minutes before giving it to your child it may need more flour to be less sticky but this type is going to be a little more sticky than others because of the lack of cornstarch. I am going to get some when I go to the store and add it. Here is a picture of our play dough bagged up:

Grant had a great time playing with it, a little messy but worth the joyful playing he did!

-Amy